Media Update: United Nations Pakistan, 15 December 2025

This Media Update includes:

• ILO - PRESS RELEASE: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa launches Integrated Beneficiary Registry to strengthen social protection delivery
• FAO - PRESS RELEASE: FAO and Agriculture Department Celebrate KP's First-Ever Commercial Ginger Harvest

ILO

PRESS RELEASE

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa launches Integrated Beneficiary Registry to strengthen social protection delivery

The Integrated Beneficiary Registry will support improved coordination, efficiency and transparency across social protection programmes in the province.

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (ILO News) - The launch of the Social Protection Integrated Beneficiary Registry (IBR) today marks a key step toward strengthening the coordination and delivery of social protection programmes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Participants at the launch event underscored the role of integrated systems in reducing duplication, improving targeting and enabling more effective, data-driven social protection services across the province.

The initiative is led by the Public Policy and Social Protection Reforms Unit within the Planning & Development Department of the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with technical support from the ILO and GIZ, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and European Union (EU), under the Digital Convergence Initiative (DCI).

The Integrated Beneficiary Registry will function as a centralized database that consolidates information on individuals and households receiving benefits from multiple social protection programmes. By linking data through a unique citizen identifier, the system will enable authorities to better understand who is receiving which benefits, when and where, supporting improved service delivery and coordination across programmes.

The launch event, held in Peshawar, brought together provincial political leadership, senior government officials, and representatives from key provincial and federal social protection institutions. Faisal Khan Tarakai, Honourable Minister for Labour, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, attended the event as Chief Guest.

Geir Thomas Tonstol, Country Director of ILO Pakistan, stated that "Integrated beneficiary registries are a critical foundation for modern, effective and inclusive social protection systems. By strengthening coordination across programmes and improving the use of data, the Integrated Beneficiary Registry in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will help ensure resources are used more efficiently and that support reaches those who need it most."

Faisal Khan Tarakai, Minister for Labour, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, underscored that "By bringing labour-related schemes into a unified provincial framework, the Integrated Beneficiary Registry will allow us to better understand coverage gaps, improve coordination across programmes, and strengthen targeting. This will help ensure that workers and vulnerable households receive timely and effective support, while enabling more informed, evidence-based decision-making. The Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa appreciates the continued technical support of the ILO in advancing social protection reforms in the province."

The launch also featured a panel discussion on "Digital Transformation of Social Protection in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Current Progress and Future Priorities." Participants highlighted how integrated social protection information systems can enhance efficiency, accuracy, accountability and citizen empowerment. The IBR is developed under the ILO's Digital Convergence Initiative (DCI) framework and aims to support more proactive and data-driven delivery of social protection programmes.

Concluding the event, Khalid Khan, Director General, Social Development Unit (SDU), reaffirmed the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's commitment to institutionalizing an integrated and interoperable social protection framework to enhance efficiency, transparency and impact across the province.

Designed as both an analytical and operational tool, the Integrated Beneficiary Registry will support planning, monitoring and coordination across social protection programmes. It will also serve as a key tool for coordinating the supply side of social protection, enabling data-driven policy decisions and strengthening transparency and accountability in the allocation of public resources. By enabling comprehensive analytics, the system will help identify coverage gaps, strengthen targeting, and improve overall system performance.

For further information please contact:

Muhammad Numan, Communication Officer, Email: [email protected]

Mobile: +92 303 5000041

FAO

PRESS RELEASE

FAO and Agriculture Department Celebrate KP's First-Ever Commercial Ginger Harvest

Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa - 15 December 2025 - Khyber District has marked a historic milestone today: the successful harvest of high-quality ginger grown locally for the first time. A crop Pakistan has always imported is now being produced by farmers in KP - opening the door to a new billion-rupee opportunity for the region.

The harvest was celebrated in Peshawar in the presence of FAO's Acting Representative in Pakistan, senior officials from the KP Agriculture Department, researchers from ARS KP and NARC Islamabad, district authorities, community leaders, and farmers.

The success of the pilot did not happen by chance - it was the result of several important factors coming together at the right time. Farmers received good-quality seed from a trusted private-sector partner, and FAO trained them through its Farmer Field School approach, giving them the skills to handle a completely new crop. Throughout the season, FAO, ARS, and Agriculture Extension teams provided continuous technical guidance, while farmers themselves showed strong motivation and ownership. The natural conditions in Bara - favourable climate and soil - further supported the crop's performance, and the relatively low entry cost made ginger an attractive option for smallholders. The private sector remained actively engaged throughout, creating opportunities for learning and future market linkages.

When all these dots connect - seed, skills, support, climate, and private-sector engagement - a value chain begins to take shape. Ginger is now proving exactly that in KP.

Speaking at the event, James Okoth, FAO's Acting Representative in Pakistan, said:
"This pilot shows what becomes possible when everyone works together - farmers, researchers, extension teams, and the private sector. When farmers get good seed, adequate training, and timely guidance, and when the environment supports it, a new crop can really take off. Ginger is now showing great promise for Khyber and beyond."

FAO guided farmers step by step through the entire season, helping them prepare, plant, and manage the crop. Exposure visits to Punjab gave them the reassurance that they, too, could succeed.

A farmer shared: "We had never grown ginger before. FAO supported us from day one and stayed with us throughout the season. Now the crop has succeeded, and we are confident to expand and even share seed with other farmers. This is a game changer for us."

A High-Value Opportunity for Pakistan

Pakistan imported USD 42.7 million worth of ginger in 2023. With successful yields now demonstrated in KP:

• farmers can earn far more compared to traditional crops
• the country can reduce its reliance on costly imports
• new value chains and rural employment - especially for women and youth - can emerge

Ginger also shows strong potential for value addition, including dry ginger, powder, pastes, and seed multiplication.

Scaling Up Across KP

Encouraged by the pilot's success, the KP Agriculture Department and FAO are planning to expand ginger cultivation to three additional merged districts. Continued collaboration with ARS KP, NARC, Agriculture Extension, and private-sector actors will guide the next phase. There is also potential for related high-value crops like turmeric, and for establishing local seed systems and community-level processing units.

A New Chapter for Farmers in Khyber

This successful pilot has shown that with the right support, Khyber District can grow high-value, climate-resilient crops that raise incomes and strengthen rural livelihoods.

Ginger is no longer just an imported product - it is now a homegrown success story for KP.

Affsheen Yousaf
Communications Specialist, FAO Pakistan
[email protected] | 0321-8586555

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Website: www.fao.org/Pakistan